Skin concerns

Clear, jargon-free explanations of common skin concerns — what they are, why they happen, and what actually helps.

• Acne scars

  Acne scars are lasting changes in the skin left behind after acne, especially after inflamed or severe breakouts. They come in two broad kinds: changes in colour (dark or pink marks) and changes in texture (small dents or, less often, raised areas).

• Acne

  Acne is a common skin condition that happens when pores get blocked with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. It shows up as blackheads, whiteheads, or the red, sore bumps people call pimples.

• Blackheads & whiteheads

  Blackheads and whiteheads are clogged pores, formed when sebum (your skin's natural oil) and dead skin cells build up and plug the opening. A blackhead is an open plug that darkens in the air; a whitehead is a closed plug under a thin layer of skin.

• Dark circles

  Dark circles are the darker shadow or discoloration under the eyes. They have several possible causes, including pigment, shadows from facial structure, and thin skin that lets the blood vessels beneath show through.

• Dullness

  Dullness is when skin loses its luminosity and looks flat or tired, most often because dead cells have built up on the surface and started to scatter light unevenly.

• Eczema

  Eczema is a long-term, inflammatory skin condition that shows up as dry, itchy, red, or scaly patches. It can start in childhood and continue or first appear in adulthood, and it is not contagious.

• Fine lines & wrinkles

  Fine lines and wrinkles are creases in the skin, from shallow surface lines to deeper folds, that show up as skin gradually makes less collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep it firm and springy. The same shift is what people mean by loss of elasticity.

• Hormonal & cyclical breakouts

  Hormonal acne is acne that flares in step with shifts in your hormones, often in a predictable pattern around your menstrual cycle. It usually shows up as deeper, sometimes tender bumps, often along the lower face and jaw.

• Hyperpigmentation

  Hyperpigmentation is a common, usually harmless condition where patches of skin turn darker than the skin around them. It happens when pigment-making cells produce extra melanin, the natural pigment that gives skin its colour.

• Pores

  Pores are the small openings in your skin, most of which sit on top of a sebaceous (oil) gland. They're a normal part of every face, and they look bigger when they're stretched or clogged.

• Puffiness

  Puffiness usually means mild swelling under the eyes, where the area looks fuller or more raised than usual. It comes down to a small build-up of fluid, and sometimes fat, in a spot where the skin is thin.

• Redness

  Redness is skin that looks flushed or pink, in patches or across a wider area. It is a symptom rather than a diagnosis, often a temporary reaction to a trigger but sometimes a sign of a condition like rosacea.

• Rosacea

  Rosacea is a long-term skin condition marked by persistent facial redness, easy flushing, and visible blood vessels, sometimes with small bumps and a burning feeling. Its exact cause is still not fully understood.

• Sensitive skin

  Sensitive skin reacts more easily than most to products, weather, or friction, often with redness, itching, stinging, or burning. It can be something you are born with or something that develops over time from harsh routines.

• Uneven texture

  Uneven texture is skin that doesn't feel or look smooth, with small bumps, roughness, or irregularities across the surface. It usually reflects how quickly skin is shedding and replacing its surface cells.

• Very dry skin

  Very dry skin has tipped past everyday dryness into discomfort, with intense tightness, visible flaking, and a rough texture. It is short on both the fats (lipids) and the water that keep skin comfortable.